[IIOE2-EP61] Trends and Ecosystem Responses in Marginal Seas of the Northwestern Indian Ocean: A Synthesis of Biogeochemical and Biological Data
Lead Investigator :
- Dr. Maryam Ghaemi ,Iranian National Institute for Oceanography and Atmospheric Science,Persian Gulf Oceanography Center, Bushehr, 7515713711, Iran
mghaemi[at]inio[dot]ac[dot]ir, maryam[dot]ghaemy[at]gmail[dot]com
Other Key participants:
- Dr. Behroz Abtahi, Principal Investigator, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
abtahi[dot]b[at]gmail[dot]com - Dr. Turki Al-Said, Principal Investigator, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, Kuwait
tsaeed[at]kisr[dot]edu[dot]kw, tarook84[at]hotmail[dot]com - Dr. Manal Al-Kandari, Principal Investigator, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, Kuwait
mkandari17[at]gmail[dot]com
Period of Project: 1 April 2026 - 31 December 2028
Brief description of the Project:
The marginal seas of the northwestern Indian Ocean-including the Inner ROPME Sea Area (i.e., the waters west of the Strait of Hormuz,), the Gulf of Oman, and the Red Sea- are increasingly impacted by climate change and human activities. Anthropogenic stressors such as rising temperatures, increased salinity, deoxygenation, eutrophication, intensive shipping, coastal development, and the environmental impacts of desalination are exerting significant pressure on these ecosystems. As a result, these regions are likely undergoing long-term changes in biogeochemical cycles, oxygen concentrations, chlorophyll levels, and species composition. Despite these ongoing changes, a comprehensive regional synthesis of these changes is still lacking.
Over the past several decades, numerous national and international initiatives have generated valuable datasets (e.g., the World Ocean Database, Copernicus Earth observation data, CMEMS - Copernicus Marine Environment Monitoring Service, PERSGA - Regional Organization for the Conservation of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, ROPME - Regional Organization for the Protection of the Marine Environment, and various national oceanographic institutes). Despite the richness of these resources, they remain underutilized for integrated, regional-scale assessments.
While many localized studies have been conducted, a meta-analysis of existing data is needed to develop a comprehensive, regionally integrated understanding of ecosystem responses to both climate and human-induced drivers. This effort aims to leverage historical and contemporary datasets-including remote sensing, ship-based surveys, time-series stations, and peer-reviewed literature-in alignment with the vision of the Second International Indian Ocean Expedition (IIOE2). The objective is to integrate and analyze physicochemical and biological data to assess long-termtrends, identify emerging patterns and ecological thresholds, and understand ecosystem responses across these marginal seas. Such a synthesis will provide a critical foundation for future research initiatives and the development of informed regional management strategies.
Region(s) of study:
Provide a description of 'where' the research is to be conducted (for field-based activities) and/or the region or regions to which the research pertains (you are encouraged to consider providing either the coordinates of the area of studies or the coordinates of the planned cruise tracks, as well as a figure as an addendum to your proposal).
Inner ROPME Sea Area (referring to waters west of the Strait of Hormuz), Gulf of Oman, and possibly the Red Sea.